When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was up by +27% in total viewers and +23% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network grew by +15% in total viewers and +2% in the demo.
- MS NOW was up +17% in total viewers and +46% in the demo. During total day, the network was up +28% in total viewers and +44% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN grew by +83% in total viewers and +100% in the demo. During total day, it rose by +57% in total viewers and +63 in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five on top with 4.149 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by The Rachel Maddow Show, airing only on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, which landed in ninth place with 2.593 million total viewers. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, airing weeknights at 10 p.m. ET, took the No. 15 position with 1.542 million total viewers.
Jesse Watters Primetime, which airs weeknights at 8 p.m. ET on Fox News, was the most-watched program in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 431,000 viewers. Fox News held 13 of the 15 top spots in the demo, with MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show, airing only on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, finishing in ninth place with 285,000 demo viewers. CNN had one show in the chart: Anderson Cooper 360, weeknights at 8 p.m. ET, with 195,000 demo viewers at No. 15.
February 23, 2026
Prime Time
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 3,930,000 | 1,432,000 | 1,085,000 |
| • A25-54: | 482,000 | 167,000 | 238,000 |
Total Day
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 2,279,000 | 846,000 | 730,000 |
| • A25-54: | 259,000 | 95,000 | 137,000 |
